When it comes to skincare, there’s a few things that come to mind when picking out products. For one, they need to suit my skin type. I need products that not only compliment my combination skin, but don’t irritate it as well because of its sensitivity. And two, they need to be cruelty free and have ingredients I can trust or are all natural.

One of the brands that I’ve been obsessing over recently are VTMN Organics – a small, Hispanic-owned skincare line that caters to all of my needs. The items are all made by hand, feature all-natural ingredients, and they’re cruelty free!

The first product I tried from them was their Facial Glaze moisturizer that I previously featured in my monthly favorites. This lightweight, facial oil is specifically for oily skin and it makes my skin look so glowy.

I recently ordered a few other items during their restock that I’ve added to my skincare routine and I can’t get enough of them.

Cinnamon Bun face mask – This mask is an acne treatment that disinfects your skin from bacterial infection. Now, other than the occasional hormonal breakout, I don’t suffer from acne. However, those occasional breakouts are a menace and often leave behind a dark spot and can be painful. This mask works to heal open scars, wounds, and popped irritated pimples and soothes your skin. It comes with a spoon to help you mix the products and apply it to your skin. I was apprehensive due to the cinnamon and my skin being so sensitive, but it hasn’t irritated my skin at all. It makes my skin feel so soft and it smells amazing.

Apple Crisp Toner – This toner smells exactly like apple cider vinegar, but don’t be put off because the product is great, and the scent doesn’t linger. It works to regulate the pigmentation in your skin to help get rid of dark and white spots and other discoloration. It also balances the PH of your skin, minimizes pores, and its vegan.

Gold Elixir – This serum is similar to the Facial Glaze. It’s a lightweight blend of oils, with ylang ylang and sage with golden flakes that moisturizes and soothes the skin. Once I saw the gold flakes, I knew I had to have this. It feels so velvety on the skin and it sinks into the skin, leaving your skin looking radiant. I’m absolutely in love with this product, I feel like a goddess when I use this.

I use these products, along with my Niacinamide serum from The Ordinary, as my skincare routine. So far, it’s helped reduce the appearance of breakouts and my dark spots. It’s even helped reduce the appearance of my large pores. I went through many different products before landing on something that actually helped even my skin tone and texture and I’ve finally found a routine that fits my skin. Skincare is definitely trial and error so it’s important to find a routine that caters to your skin. Definitely give VTMN Organics a try and see if there’s anything that fits your skin needs.

As promised, I compiled all of the music I’ve been loving recently into one post. There have been so many amazing releases over the past couple of weeks so I’ve been taking full advantage of that. I’m incredibly guilty of listening to albums on repeat for days on end because then I find something I enjoy, I want to fully immerse myself in it. So, let’s dive into this list.

Tonight Alive “Disappear” – As someone that loves both Tonight Alive and PVRIS it’s hard not to be obsessed with this track. Tonight Alive truly reinvented themselves on their most recent release Underworld, allowing themselves to truly showcase their musicianship and deliver an album that they can (and should) be proud of. While “Disappear” isn’t necessarily a standout track on the album, it’s definitely one that deserves to be discussed. It’s a powerful and melodic bop that serves as an anthem about abandoning your comfort zone in exchange for breaking free. Jenna McDougall’s vocals soar on this track; she’s always had some serious pipes but pair that with Lynn Gunn’s raspy and dreamy voice and you have a match made in heaven.

Cane Hill “It Follows” – Cane Hill have been tearing up the music scene for a while but with the release of their sophomore album Too Far Gone, they’ve gone from just tearing it up to completely obliterating it. They’ve shed their skin and emerged as an entirely new band, focusing on showing everyone just how Cane Hill truly are. The album touches on various topics that have both affected the band and the world around them. “It Follows” is a catchy, metal track that takes you from nodding your head along to the beat to catapulting yourself across the room in a one-man mosh pit in your bedroom. With lyrics like “Such dramatic agony/ The fever breaks again/ I can feel it following/ And it's calling my name,” the self-proclaimed “metal-epic” entices your inner trouble-maker to go out and unleash hell.

Waterparks “TANTRUM” – Waterpark’s latest release Entertainment has been one of the most talked about releases of 2018 and its only February. One of the tracks that has earned its title as a definite “bop” is TANTRUM. From the moment the automated voice starts to the moment the guitars kick it, it hits you like a slap in the face. Waterparks did the damn thing when they released this track. It’s raw, gritty and it proves that Waterparks aren’t your typical run-of-the-mill pop punk band. It’s definitely the heaviest track on Entertainment, with the band finessing audiences with every beat. After the automated voice finishes roasting these “fuckboy bands” flooding the scene, the song starts off with Awsten Knight’s declaration of “If I wasn't thin and white with blue hair would I be here? / Maybe if I kill myself you’ll know I'm sincere / I'll shave my blue hair, burn the rest of two dares / Drop from 'parks like "fuck it, who cares?" They truly didn’t have to go so hard, I’m still recovering.

Paramore “Pool” –  Guess who’s back in another episode of “After Laughter Continues to Be a Gift to the World”? After Laughter plays out like a dark comedy, dressing up the dark undertones in the lyrics with pretty melodies and catchy beats. Paramore’s dark take on a love song exposes the visceral side of a love-gone-sour. It completely depicts what it’s like to strip away every part of yourself and dive headfirst into the deep in and then remembering you can’t swim and instead of saving you – the one you love just watches you drown. Paramore has me reminiscing on past loves that never even existed.

Staircase Spirits “Ghosts”- Music has always served as an outlet, a way to heal and expel any demons that might be weighing on your heart. It can be incredibly cathartic to finally put into the words the darkness that’s been consuming you in an attempt to harness that pain and turn it into something pure and therapeutic. That’s exactly what Staircase Spirits did with their latest EP Ghost Stories. This pop-rock outlet is composed of Anna Maria Acosta and Eva Friedman, hailing from sunny shores in Los Angeles. After revisiting the songs on their EP, they decided to re-release two of the more personal tracks on the EP – “Roulette” and “Ghosts”. These track in particular were especially important to Acosta as they were conceived after she escaped an abusive relationship. I got the chance to hear a bit of her story behind the tracks. “4 years ago, I woke up, looked at the man sleeping next to me and realized that if I stayed, I wasn’t going to survive. I ultimately wrote two songs about that day – January 19, 2014.” Acosta then explained that they released the EP on the anniversary of their existence. In “Ghosts” you can feel every bit of the pain she experienced and the relief that followed her escape to freedom. The opening verse, “Gone tonight, I left a lot of ghosts behind me / In haunted houses full of secrets that they kept / I’m far enough away that they don’t scare me here / And I’m too far gone to feel regret” perfectly sets the scene of her story.

Make sure you check out all of the incredible talent on this list. Let me know what songs you’ve been loving in the comments.

It’s that time again! It’s time for everyone to freak out about the Vans Warped Tour lineup. Only this time, we’re freaking out because it’s the last full-cross country Warped Tour ever.

Yep, that’s right. This summer will be the final year that Warped Tour will travel cross-country and then it’s a wrap. There’s speculation that founder Kevin Lyman still has a few tricks up his sleeve, like a special anniversary show, but that’s another discussion for another time. For months, there has been speculation of who would be on the lineup for this year. Vans Warped Tour has been a huge staple in the music scene for years, showcasing some of the biggest names in music and serving as a platform for upcoming artists. Artists like My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, All Time Low, A Day to Remember, VersaEmerge, Cobra Starship, The Academy Is, Gym Class Heroes, Katy Perry and even Eminem have graced the stages at Warped Tour so it’s safe to say that we had to go out with a bang.

The lineup was announced this week and like everyone else, I had an intense reaction when I finally saw it. If I had to capture the moment, my face probably looked a little like this.

Let’s discuss some of the bands that you need to make a top priority this summer. These are the bands you cannot afford to miss. From their fierce stage presence, remarkable showmanship, and the music to back it all up – these bands are guaranteed to make your Warped Tour experience one you will never forget.

Warped Veterans (AKA the bands that you cried about when you saw the lineup). These are the bands that helped pave the way for future bands on the tour. These bands had humble beginnings on Warped, back when they were just baby bands with questionable hair styles but still charming in every way. Now, they’re heavy-hitters and they’re coming back one last time to give Warped a proper send off.  

3OH!3. Asking Alexandria. Mayday Parade. Reel Big Fish. Sum 41. Taking Back Sunday. Underoath. All Time Low. Four Year Strong. Less Than Jake. The Maine. Simple Plan. The Used. We The Kings. Silverstein. Every Time I Die.

Warped Glow-Ups (AKA the coming-of-age stories). These are the bands that have played Warped over the past couple of years and got bumped to bigger stages (including the main stages). We’ve watched these bands grow and continue to make waves throughout the music scene and they’re back to continue to prove why they should be everyone’s favorite band.

Knuckle Puck. State Champs. Waterparks. Movements. As It Is. Knocked Loose. This Wild Life. Broadside.

Warped Essentials (AKA the bands we expect to see at Warped). These are the bands that come to mind when you think of Warped Tour, especially in recent years. These are the bands that have played multiple times over the past few years and have become a staple in the Warped scene.

Black Veil Brides. Beartooth. Falling in Reverse. Issues. Tonight Alive. Real Friends. The Amity Affliction. Chelsea Grin. Ice Nine Kills. Wage War. Motionless In White. Crown The Empire. August Burns Red.

Warped Underground (AKA The new kids). These are the bands that need to be on your radar. These are bands that crash landed on the scene and have been shaking up the world of music. These are names you may or may not already know but nonetheless, you’re going to leave Warped with an obsession with one of the names on this list.

Assuming We Survive. Grayscale. Chase Atlantic. Doll Skin. Palaye Royale. Sleep On It. Capstan. Sharptooth. Picturesque.

I’ve composed a playlist featuring all of my picks that are standouts on the 2018 Vans Warped Tour

I can’t wait to see some of my favorite bands take on Warped one last time. Word on the street is that there are more special guests to be announced so be sure to keep an eye out on social media. I’m crossing my fingers that Paramore will be playing the Nashville date. Thank you Warped for giving me so many incredible opportunities and introducing me to some of my favorite bands.